Crews are still looking for the missing fisherman that went overboard this morning, April 03, near Moss Landing, off the California coast.
The owner of the boat reported the man missing at 6:30 a.m.
The Salinas man, 42, married with two children, was baiting traps the last time he was seen by the boat owner.
This makes me wonder; is it possible to be tethered and work on a fishing boat at the same time? I do not know, that is why I am asking.
In a previous blog we talked about the Autotether, since so many recreational boaters find the lanyards to be confining and uncomfortable, but is there any question either save lives?
However, is there a way for a professional fisherman to wear a lanyard? Not really.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is in charge of investigating ways to keep the professional fishermen safe… or safer since this profession is considered one of the most dangerous jobs anywhere…ever.
From 2000 to 2010 there were 545 fatalities of professional fishermen and 170 of those were from falling overboard in the U.S. Unless the person is seen falling and the crew can watch for them in the water, it has proven to be a tragedy in many cases.
But, if in fact these men – and women – were to wear something like the Autotether at least an alarm would go off and the crew would know immediately someone had gone over. Which, it seems to this untrained and non-professional fisherman, would have to help in the recovery of the victim.
Even NIOSH recently had recommendations to ensure the safety of the fishermen, such as wearing life jackets constantly while on board, taking safety classes at least every five years and use an man overboard alarm system… and among those recommendations for boat owners – were to install alarms for man overboard notification.
I wonder why so many fishermen apparently do not have something like the Autotether or an alarm. Any ideas?
Besides saving lives as the obvious advantage, it may even help with boating insurance.
Thoughts go out to the family and friends of the lost fisherman, his crew and those searching for him.
